Yellow Jacket Student-Athletes Set To Graduate

July 30, 2012

THE FLATS – Seventeen current and former Georgia Tech student-athletes are candidates to graduate this semester. Graduation ceremonies are set for Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Fox Theatre.

The graduate candidates include current starting quarterback Tevin Washington, who will lead the Yellow Jackets’ football team this year as a graduate of Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. Washington will be the first Tech quarterback to play his final season as a graduate since George Godsey in 2001.

Several former student-athletes are Summer ’12 graduation candidates, including former basketball stars B.J Elder (`01-`05) and Zach Peacock (’06-’10), and former Tech football players Jamal Cox (’91-’94) and Chris Reis (’02-’05).

Elder part of Tech’s national runner-up team in 2004, played on two NCAA teams and one NIT team. Peacock played on two NCAA teams in 2007 and 2010. Both Elder and Peacock continue to play professionally in Europe.

Reis played a central role in a crucial play during Super Bowl XLIV when he recovered an onside kick for the Saints at the beginning of the second half.

All four of these athletes participated in Georgia Tech Degree Completion Program, designed to help former athletes who leave early in pursuit of their professional sports to return and complete their Georgia Tech degree.

Others set to graduate include former football defensive back Rashaad Reid, a part of Tech’s secondary from 2008-11. Reid played in 53 career games, tying a Tech record. Nick McRae, a senior offensive lineman on the current Tech roster, will also graduate.

Jessica Sinclair, sidelined by career ending injury, finished her softball playing career with 23 homers, 63 RBIs and a .473 slugging percentage (a career-high 12 homers and .737 slugging, with 25 RBIs as a junior), assumed a vital role as mentor and “student-coach” during the past season.

Volleyball standout Joanna Stawicka was a four year starter and finished her Tech career among the top-10 all-time players in hitting percentage (.347), total blocks (400) and block assists (362).

Edward McMillan, a distance runner for the cross country and track teams, competed all four years for both the cross country and track teams. Omar Morrison competed in the triple and long jumps for Tech and will receive an economic degree.